Innovative We Are LA Program helps thousands of Angelenos stay housed — a vital component to driving homelessness down for first time in years
LOS ANGELES – Results from an independent research study conducted by Loyola Marymount University were released today and show that the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles’ “We Are LA” program is helping keep people housed and preventing them from falling into homelessness. Focus on prevention is key to Mayor Bass’ comprehensive approach to confronting the homelessness crisis, which has led to the first decrease in homelessness in years, bucking increasing trends both statewide and nationwide. B-roll from the event here.
“Addressing the humanitarian crisis in our City must also focus on preventing people from falling into homelessness in the first place,” said Mayor Bass. “The tens of thousands of people served by the Mayor’s Fund are not just numbers, but individuals and families who are being connected to essential services with the goal of keeping them housed. This is how we continue to change the status quo and build upon our comprehensive strategy to tackle homelessness.”
The study, which was conducted between March and August of last year by the Center for Urban Resilience at Loyola Marymount University, revealed that nearly 75% of survey participants reported improved housing stability after seeking help from We Are LA.
Thanks to the leadership of Councilmember Nithya Raman, the Mayor’s Fund uses programs like the City’s eviction filing system to conduct outreach to vulnerable families and individuals. We Are LA connects caseworkers to these individuals and families providing one-on-one, personal support helping them overcome obstacles like applications for services, unfamiliar technology, language barriers and legal aid.
“The key to the program is personal, one-on-one, human-to-human support,” said Conway Collis, President and CEO of the Mayor’s Fund. “We use innovative methods to connect people to all available help, from legal services to food assistance that frees up funds to help people pay the rent. But the bottom line is the dedication of the caseworkers working with and supporting Angelenos through a tough process at a time of great need. This is a wonderful example of our caseworkers linking arms with other Angelenos at risk of eviction and homelessness.”
Mayor Bass has continued a comprehensive approach to confronting the homelessness crisis demonstrating sustained change:
An unprecedented 10% drop in street homelessness in the City last year, with preliminary data showing a drop for a second year in a row.
Nearly 100 Inside Safe operations have taken place since December 2022.
Permanent housing move-ins have nearly doubled compared to 2022.
Read the full study here.